Gangster Tito links: Vigilance lens on government officials

Bhubaneswar/ Cuttack: Odisha Vigilance on Tuesday initiated a probe to ascertain the role of several government officials in extending undue favours to arrested gangster Sayed Usman Ali alias Tito.

The move came after the special task force (STF) of the Crime Branch approached the Vigilance with a list of ‘suspected’ government officials in Kendrapara and other parts of the State, informed sources.

The vigilance inquiry will be initiated against the officials who by abusing their official positions helped gangster Tito to acquire sand quarries, land and petrol pumps in the name of his family members and associates.

According to sources, officers of Vigilance cell visited the Crime Branch office, Bhubaneswar which is currently investigating a number of criminal cases against Tito and collected the relevant documents and records today.

“In the course of enquiry, the Vigilance Cell will look into the liability of Govt officials of various departments on the above aspects under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988,” said a senior Vigilance officer.

It is pertinent to mention that gangster Tito had set up a huge empire through criminal activities and illegal means. Recently, it came to fore that family members of Tito had acquired licences for petrol pumps.